Rs 2000 fine for not wearing mask in Delhi, Rs 500 for not maintaining social distancing

New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced a steep fine of Rs 2000 on those who will be caught without a face mask in the national capital, earlier it was Rs 500 for first violation and Rs 1000 for subsequent violations. The Chief Minister also appealed to all political parties and social organisations to distribute masks at public places in Delhi.

The announcement comes on a day when Delhi High Court came down heavily on the government over delay in taking actions to prevent spread of coronavirus.

At the press conference this afternoon, Mr Kejriwal said arrangements are being made for over 1,400 ICU beds, "including 663 in Delhi government hospitals and 750 at Centre-run facilities".

The number of non-ICU beds for Covid patients in private hospitals will be raised from 50 per cent to 60 per cent. The decision to reserve 80 per cent ICU beds in private hospitals for COVID-19 patients has been implemented starting today, he added.

Nearly 8000 new coronavirus cases were registered on Thursday, according to official data. Data also showed that the number of fatalities recorded was 131 -- the highest single-day count in Delhi till date, pushing the number of deaths to 7,943.

Mr Kejriwal, who earlier ruled away a fresh phase of lockdown, has decided to shut markets that prove hotspots of coronavirus.

He has also ruled out the customary dip in the capital's water bodies during Chhat puja, saying he "can't let the people take a dip together, one infected person can infect the water, everybody".